GI Pharmacology practice questions:
A patient is prescribed lorazepam (Ativan) and a glucocorticoid during chemotherapy
treatments. What is the nurse's best action?
A.) Call the health care provider and question the order.
B.) Only administer the Ativan if the patient seems anxious.
C.) Administer the two medications at least 12 hours apart.
D.) Administer the medications and assess the patient for relief. - ANS D.) Drug combination
therapy is commonly used to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Both
lorazepam (Ativan) and the glucocorticoids have been found to be effective medications to
assist in preventing and managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Which statement by the patient indicates that further teaching is needed about antiemetic
medication?
A.) "I will not drive while I am taking these medications because they may cause drowsiness."
B.) "I may take Tylenol to treat the headache caused by ondansetron (Zofran)."
C.) "I will apply the scopolamine patches to rotating sites on my upper arms."
D.) "I should take my prescribed antiemetic before receiving my chemotherapy dose and
continue afterwards." - ANS C.) Transdermal scopolamine patches should be applied to
non-irritated areas behind the ear, not on the arms. It is appropriate for the patient to refrain
from driving while utilizing antiemetics, to use Tylenol to treat headaches caused by
ondansetron (Zofran), and to take antiemetics preventatively prior to and after chemotherapy.
The nurse is administering loperamide (Imodium) to a patient with diarrhea. What assessment is
essential for the nurse to perform?
A.) Vascular assessment
B.) Gastric assessment
C.) Hourly blood pressure measurements
D.) Intake and output every shift - ANS B.) Adverse effects associated with loperamide
(Imodium) include central nervous system symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness, epigastric
pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, and anorexia. The nurse should be
auscultating bowel sounds on the patient to verify that they are present in each quadrant. There
is no evidence to support vascular assessment or hourly blood pressure measurements.
Although intake and output is important because the patient is experiencing diarrhea, it does not
have the priority that gastric assessment does.
Which outcome assessment is essential to monitor for in the patient taking diphenoxylate with
atropine (Lomotil)?
A.) Increase in bowel sounds
B.) Increase in number of bowel movements
C.) Decrease in gastric motility
, D.) Decrease in urination - ANS C.) Diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil) acts on the smooth
muscle of the intestinal tract to inhibit gastrointestinal motility and excessive propulsion of the
gastrointestinal tract (peristalsis). A decrease in the gastric motility results in a decrease in the
number of bowel movements. Bowel movements should not increase; bowel sounds should not
increase, and there should be no change in urination.
What will the nurse teach the patient about the reason for administering multiple medications for
relief of nausea and vomiting?
A.) Combination therapy decreases the risk of constipation.
B.) Combination therapy is more cost-effective.
C.) Combination therapy blocks different vomiting pathways.
D.) Combination therapy decreases side effects due to lower doses of each drug. - ANS
Combining antiemetic agents from various categories allows the blocking of the vomiting center
and chemoreceptor trigger zone through different pathways, thus enhancing the antiemetic
effect.
In developing a plan of care for a patient receiving an antihistamine antiemetic agent, which
nursing diagnosis is of highest priority?
A.) Knowledge deficit regarding medication administration
B.) Fluid volume deficit related to nausea and vomiting
C.) Risk for injury related to side effects of medication
D.) Alteration in comfort related to nausea and vomiting - ANS B.) Although all of the options
are appropriate nursing diagnoses, fluid volume deficit is the highest priority because it has the
highest associated mortality rate.
What instruction is most important for the nurse to teach a patient who is taking an
anticholinergic agent to treat nausea and vomiting?
A.) "Assess your stools for dark streaks."
B.) "Do not take more than two doses of this medication."
C.) "Brush your teeth and gargle to help with dryness in your mouth."
D.) "Check your heart rate and call the health care provider if it gets below 50 beats/min." -
ANS C.) Anticholinergic agents block the parasympathetic nervous system, which causes the
body to "rest and digest." Blocking of these effects leads to constipation, urinary retention, and
decreased secretions (dry mouth).
Which nursing intervention is a priority before administering magnesium hydroxide to a patient?
A.) Obtain a history of constipation and causes.
B.) Record baseline vital signs.
C.) Assess renal function.
D.) Advise the patient to take the medication with a glass of water. - ANS C.) Adequate renal
function is needed to excrete excess magnesium. This intervention is essential to predict how
the patient will handle the therapy. The other interventions are important, but assessing renal
function is the priority.
A patient is prescribed lorazepam (Ativan) and a glucocorticoid during chemotherapy
treatments. What is the nurse's best action?
A.) Call the health care provider and question the order.
B.) Only administer the Ativan if the patient seems anxious.
C.) Administer the two medications at least 12 hours apart.
D.) Administer the medications and assess the patient for relief. - ANS D.) Drug combination
therapy is commonly used to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Both
lorazepam (Ativan) and the glucocorticoids have been found to be effective medications to
assist in preventing and managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Which statement by the patient indicates that further teaching is needed about antiemetic
medication?
A.) "I will not drive while I am taking these medications because they may cause drowsiness."
B.) "I may take Tylenol to treat the headache caused by ondansetron (Zofran)."
C.) "I will apply the scopolamine patches to rotating sites on my upper arms."
D.) "I should take my prescribed antiemetic before receiving my chemotherapy dose and
continue afterwards." - ANS C.) Transdermal scopolamine patches should be applied to
non-irritated areas behind the ear, not on the arms. It is appropriate for the patient to refrain
from driving while utilizing antiemetics, to use Tylenol to treat headaches caused by
ondansetron (Zofran), and to take antiemetics preventatively prior to and after chemotherapy.
The nurse is administering loperamide (Imodium) to a patient with diarrhea. What assessment is
essential for the nurse to perform?
A.) Vascular assessment
B.) Gastric assessment
C.) Hourly blood pressure measurements
D.) Intake and output every shift - ANS B.) Adverse effects associated with loperamide
(Imodium) include central nervous system symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness, epigastric
pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, and anorexia. The nurse should be
auscultating bowel sounds on the patient to verify that they are present in each quadrant. There
is no evidence to support vascular assessment or hourly blood pressure measurements.
Although intake and output is important because the patient is experiencing diarrhea, it does not
have the priority that gastric assessment does.
Which outcome assessment is essential to monitor for in the patient taking diphenoxylate with
atropine (Lomotil)?
A.) Increase in bowel sounds
B.) Increase in number of bowel movements
C.) Decrease in gastric motility
, D.) Decrease in urination - ANS C.) Diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil) acts on the smooth
muscle of the intestinal tract to inhibit gastrointestinal motility and excessive propulsion of the
gastrointestinal tract (peristalsis). A decrease in the gastric motility results in a decrease in the
number of bowel movements. Bowel movements should not increase; bowel sounds should not
increase, and there should be no change in urination.
What will the nurse teach the patient about the reason for administering multiple medications for
relief of nausea and vomiting?
A.) Combination therapy decreases the risk of constipation.
B.) Combination therapy is more cost-effective.
C.) Combination therapy blocks different vomiting pathways.
D.) Combination therapy decreases side effects due to lower doses of each drug. - ANS
Combining antiemetic agents from various categories allows the blocking of the vomiting center
and chemoreceptor trigger zone through different pathways, thus enhancing the antiemetic
effect.
In developing a plan of care for a patient receiving an antihistamine antiemetic agent, which
nursing diagnosis is of highest priority?
A.) Knowledge deficit regarding medication administration
B.) Fluid volume deficit related to nausea and vomiting
C.) Risk for injury related to side effects of medication
D.) Alteration in comfort related to nausea and vomiting - ANS B.) Although all of the options
are appropriate nursing diagnoses, fluid volume deficit is the highest priority because it has the
highest associated mortality rate.
What instruction is most important for the nurse to teach a patient who is taking an
anticholinergic agent to treat nausea and vomiting?
A.) "Assess your stools for dark streaks."
B.) "Do not take more than two doses of this medication."
C.) "Brush your teeth and gargle to help with dryness in your mouth."
D.) "Check your heart rate and call the health care provider if it gets below 50 beats/min." -
ANS C.) Anticholinergic agents block the parasympathetic nervous system, which causes the
body to "rest and digest." Blocking of these effects leads to constipation, urinary retention, and
decreased secretions (dry mouth).
Which nursing intervention is a priority before administering magnesium hydroxide to a patient?
A.) Obtain a history of constipation and causes.
B.) Record baseline vital signs.
C.) Assess renal function.
D.) Advise the patient to take the medication with a glass of water. - ANS C.) Adequate renal
function is needed to excrete excess magnesium. This intervention is essential to predict how
the patient will handle the therapy. The other interventions are important, but assessing renal
function is the priority.
